The price was steep. Instead of possibly landing two future starters, the Cowboys went after a player they think can be a difference-making pass rusher.

So, who would Dallas have landed if it didn’t make the trade? Cowboys chief operating officer Stephen Jones revealed the answer during a Tuesday conference call with season ticket holders.

Missouri defensive end Kony Ealy would’ve been the pick at No. 47. Ealy went to Carolina at No. 60. LSU offensive guard Trai Turner would have been Dallas’ third-round selection.

The Cowboys attempted to land Tuner by trading back into the end of the third round, but a deal fell apart at the last minute and he went to Carolina at pick 92.

What about Florida State defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan?

“I would say that Ealy was probably our next pick,” Jones said. “Sometimes what you read isn’t always true in terms of the Jernigans of the world and people like that. We really didn’t have him in that mix.”

Dallas needed immediate help at right defensive end and Lawrence was the last impact player at that position on the Cowboys’ board. Jones said they viewed Lawrence as being a “much better” right end than Ealy.

“Obviously we would’ve fortified our line for the next 10 years,” Jones said.

Last weekend’s draft was a popular topic on the hour-long conference call. Here are a few other draft-related notes.

– One of the Cowboys’ five seventh-round picks was spent on Baylor safety Ahmad Dixon. Jones said Dixon is “almost a cinch to make our team because our special teams coach Rich Bisaccia is so fired up about him because of his run/hit factor.”

– Jones says fourth-round pick Anthony Hitchens shouldn’t be viewed as only a reserve middle linebacker. Jones says Hitchens could battle Kyle Wilber and DeVonte Holloman for a starting spot on the outside.

– West Texas A&M quarterback Dustin Vaughan was recently signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent. Jones said they had a sixth-round grade on Vaughan.

– The Cowboys confirmed the signing of 24 undrafted free agents on Tuesday. Here are a few that stand out to Jones.

Arizona State DT Davon Coleman. Jones said there was a huge debate over taking Coleman or seventh-round pick Ken Bishop. Jones said he thought Coleman outplayed Arizona DT Will Sutton, a third-round pick, last season.

LSU fullback J.C. Copeland. The Cowboys had a sixth-round grade on Copeland.

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